Sound Check: America revived by Breaking Bad,' Hustle' notoriety

America has enjoyed a long life for its catalog of hits — especially its 1972 breakthrough single “A Horse With No Name.” And this year it’s in the spotlight once again.

The tune, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is used prominently in a key scene of the Academy Award-nominated “American Hustle,” not long after it was featured in an episode of “Breaking Bad.” It’s a revival Dewey Bunnell, who wrote the song, doesn’t mind at all.

“Oh yeah, it’s got a life of its own, that damn song,” says Bunnell, 62, who founded America during 1970 in England with Gerry Beckley and the late Dan Peek. “It’s fantastic. There’s lots of songs that get attention, but ‘Horse With No Name’ keeps finding its way into things.”

“We have no control over those things — those are as big a surprise to us as to anybody else. And a lot of times they’ll license a song and you’re never sure if it’s going to be used. I had no idea what ‘American Hustle’ was; you just look at the parameters or a sketch of what it is and in what context it’ll be used.

“It’s a great movie. I really enjoyed it, and I’m glad we’re part of it in any way at all.”

Bunnell and Beckley have just started their 2014 touring schedule, and the two have no recording plans at the moment. But Bunnell says they are considering a sequel to 2011’s “Back Pages,” a covers collection of some of their favorite songs.

“That was just the tip of the iceberg, ’cause there’s so many more (songs) we’d like to do,” ways Bunnell, who resides in Wisconsin. “It’s unbelievable how doing it just opens up a whole (lot more). ... You peel back the onion skins and there’s so many songs we love. So we’re receptive to doing another one, I think, but I’m not sure when that’ll be.”